Comshaw
VAGITARIAN
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2000
- Posts
- 11,988
I don't get many. I got one on my "Medicinal Mountain Magic" story. It was a romance story and most comments were positive. The characters went their separate ways at the end of the story and there were a few who lamented that happening. However one reader took it a lot more personally:I've noticed a genre of commentary that is often positive but sometimes hard to tell, where the commentator will basically just say what they think should happen next in a series (or possible sequels), or even what SHOULD have happened in the story they're commenting on. It has literally never been my impulse to try to influence an author and their work, so I genuinely don't know what the impulse is. Benign 'wouldn't it be fun if [kink] happened' is all well and good, but I will also get suggestions for character development and plot beats.
And usually, the tone is quite forceful! It tends to make me feel like I am going to disappoint one person in particular (or however many leave those comments) if I don't deliver.
Do you get many of these? Do you ever take inspiration from them, or simply view it as a form of flattery more than criticism?
"Five star story - 1 star ending. Most disappointed you left them to go their separate ways. There are hundreds of stories on this site alone in which this age disparity have worked out in a positive manner. You perhaps exceeded your intention of making their feelings for each other more than intended, but I read it as true love, not something to be abandoned because of an age difference that wasn't even clearly defined. Now go back and write a part two in which either or both seek out the other."
Many readers want the story to end with a nice bow, everything tied up nice and neat and everyone living happily ever after, but THAT AIN'T LIFE. And while I do read the comments and consider the reader's view point, I am not really inclined to do something that is demanded, especially since I think the ending was perfect for what I was trying to accomplish.
I think Bramblethorn said it best in his post: "...and part of the point is that a relationship doesn't have to be forever to be important and positive."
People touch our lives every day and leave a mark, good or bad then move on. To that point I was in a discussion about polyamorous relationships. I pointed out that my wife and I were in one with another couple for 15 years, almost twice as long as the average marriage in the U.S. The response was, "Yeah but it ended didn't it? Since it did end it wasn't a good relationship." Faulty logic if I ever heard it. The relationship did end. All things eventually come to an end. We did have some bad feelings when it happened, but all four of us grew in the time we were together. All four of us took something positive away when we parted. Bramblethorn's comment is a perfect quote for reality.
Back to the main focus of the discussion. I read that comment, like I do with all that are posted, thought about it and rejected the idea because the characters wouldn't have been the same people had I done what was demanded. That said, comments can carry valuable insight and nuggets of inspiration, sometimes.
Comshaw